noted that something was not normal with my eyes.An ophthalmologist was con-sulted. With much patience, he was able to examine my eyes. He found a very high myopia. He feared the total loss of sight over the next few years. For my parents, this diagnosis became a prayer topic every-day.During 2nd World War I started my primary school. It was not easy to get used to glasses with thick lenses. This became my most valuable treasure despite the teasing and burying from my classmates. The half an hour walk to school of Zelg was romantic, but during winter time, this was a challenge. While my father was on military service, all the farm work was on my mother’s shoulder. I so much enjoyed my Sunday school. The bible stories and missionary reports caught my interests.

1944 –1953My school years After four years at «Zelg» I continued my studies within the village. The teachers were very caring and payed atten-tion to my visual impairment and good results started to show on my school reports.My regular visits to an ophthal-mologist cost so much money but it was so inevitable. My dear parents took charge of it.

Dear Friends, For a number of years we have been interlinked with one another through the missiona-ry work in Rwanda. With your faithfulness in donations, we have contributed to the deve-lopment of the whole region. As a sign of gratitude, today I would like to invite you to join me through the last 80 years. The good Shepherd whose praises are found in Psalm 23, I personally lived that and I would like to share those formative experiences with you all.

1934 – 1943My Childhood I was born on 9th November 1934, in a very small farm near Heiden. My older sister, who was then one and half years old, had to look after me while my mother was helping my dad working on the farm and silk weaving. Two other sisters completed our family. Thanks to my mother’s close look, she

The primary and secondary school especially the 3 years of industry based apprentice-ship were a huge burden for my eyes. But I could manage with divine favour through these years. This encouraged me to hold fast to my calling to use my talents one day in Africa despite my disability.

1954 – 1963My professional activities Right after my industrial based apprenticeship, I started working in a generalinsurance company «The mobiliar» in Thun. Fist, in the office, then within community for the exter-nal services. It was within the Thun Pentecost church com-munity, I found my spiritual food. I was part of the worship team and I continued to enjoy the missionary reports. Soon I managed to save enough funds to enable me to join a bible school.A severe ocular inflammation motivated my boss to send me to the famous professor in Bern. He carefully examined my eyes and discovered the

Pour un meilleur avenirFor a brighter futureFür eine nachhaltige Entwicklung

Alfred & Lucie ToblerPozzistrasse 5, 9642 Ebnat-Kappel

www.prorwanda.chprorwanda@tbwil.ch

Nov. 2014

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalm 23.1–4

«Glaucoma». Yet he could never have measured the amount of pressure to such a young man.Despite various drugs against ocular tension, operation was inevitable in spring 1961. I was very pleased with the results. After 2 years in paid job, I had courage to leave my work and dedicated my whole life to the ministry. At the beginning 1963, my language training started in Paris then London. In October I found myself in kibbutz in Israel with a group of other youth from Switzerland.

1964 – 1973A new perspective I really enjoyed life spent in kibbutz learning Hebrew. When my sister was sent as a missionary in Rwanda, I was already back home. To-wards the end of that Sunday service, I heard a mail letter: A call to go to Rwanda, with an urgency to send a teacher. Here I was a perfect candidate with church approval. What a miracle! I then started my journey to Bern and to Brussels for my studies in education before heading to Stockholm to attend a Bible school.

The first 6 months of year 1966, I was serving the Chris-tian community in Switzerland and in German. This period interestingly ended with an unforgettable farewell service.Then came the departure day.

The 8th August, I said good-bye to parents and friends in St.Gallen and Zurich. The doors of a night express train were closed and I arrived in Brussels safe and sound. At the international airport, the Sabena plane was waiting for me. On the night flight head-ing to Bujumbura, Burundi, I sensed a strong hand of the good Shepherd, who has guided me. Here I was on my way to Africa with my doctor’s consent. I was well pleased to work as a teacher. One of my students offered me his help in learning the Kinyarwanda language. I was very happy.

On weekends and during holiday, I accompanied Pastor Gabriel in remote regions that were opened for the gospel.We also supported Evange-lists with Bible studies. Every-where there was a spiritual re-vival. The new VW Combi was of a great service for me. It was not always possible park the vehicle next to the chapel. In these circumstances night watchmen kept singing and praying , as I tried to sleep.During the opposition issues in Congo (DRC), all Europeans and thousands of Congolese crossed the boarder. They were looking for food and shelters. We were able to assist them with the help of international Aid. At the same time my future worried me as my leave was approaching.Pastors of young churches around Karengera begged me to marry during my stay in Switzerland and return.Indeed, the Lord had already prepared Lucie for me! Her spontaneous consent filled

me with joy and gratitude. Our deep love and mutual trust helped us during the next 6 months: engagement, marriage, worship and farewell departure.On 18th September 1970, we left Switzerland. Seating to-gether on comfortable seats in the plane, we felt in the perfect will of the Lord. With peace, we were flying to a great and exciting future.

A small mud hut, the VW Com-bi and many friends waiting for us! The warm welcome by the mayor and residents of Karengera, deeply touched our hearts. The missionaries Alvar & Maj Lindskog, who had started the evangelistic work in 1940 in the south of Rwanda, had come to celebra-te the 30th anniversary of the Pentecostal Church in Rwan-da. After the party, they escor-ted us to Karengera. They blessed us for our activities in that region. Lucie immedia-tely started treating patients. Elisabeth (my sister) opened sewing workshops and I learnt how to be «a construction entrepreneur». We needed a home. Eight months later, we had been able to move out of the VW Combi into our new house…Employees training and the constructions of the new cha-pels demanded all our efforts.

´

The birth of our son David at the Mugonero Hospital proved the great love of God towards us! Obviously a white baby drew the attention for the young and the old people. The great relationship we heard with local authorities helped us little by little to get used to that new region.In July 1973, a coup d’ état struck us like a bolt of thunder! Many died and others injured, and some fled abroad. Many houses were burnt down before law and order settled. Because of renal colic, we de-cided to return to Switzerland for an operation. 1974 – 1983Our Family In February, our second son Martin was born. While Lucie looked after our kids, I was busy visiting Swiss churches, telling them about our work in Rwanda. Our holiday ended really quickly. With Martin 5 months old and David 2 years, we left Switzerland, motiva-ted to resume our missionary service.Our local staff helped us so much. We missed nothing! The businessmen of Karen-gera were particularly very helpful towards us. Whatever we needed, they brought it from the capital. When we travelled with them, changing tires in moonlight was part of a special adventure ... Twice the driver fell asleep, the vehicle climbed the slope to fall on the side without anyone being hurt! Thank you Lord for your protection!With the birth of Rachel in June 1975, our joy was complete!

Our sisters and brothers in Europe made a lot of sacri- fices, sponsoring new churches and schools.During our 1978/79 holidays in Switzerland, a German female teacher decided to come with us and teach our children. What a divine answer to our prayers! The engagement of Ula with our children and the youth of Rwanda was so precious. When we left Rwan-da two weeks before Easter 1983, no eye remained dry. A blessed time came to an end and new tasks were expec-ted. Miraculously our children had no problem at school in Heiden. They also enjoyed getting to know their cousins and becoming accustomed to life in Switzerland.A severe pneumonia struck Lucie‘s father and finished his life. 1984 – 1993He knows the way Some months later on my mother left us after a long time in a hospital. She had accom-panied us throughout our lives with her prayers. What a great privilege!After Easter in 1984, I was invited to Parkhotel in Gunten where we studied the word of God in the morning and evening, afternoon we made excursions.

An awful inflammation on my eyes forced me to look for an ophthalmologist.Instead of pain relief, the medi-cation caused allergies. A friend had to drive me to Bern, where the infection was treated. The lens of the right eye was unfor-tunately damaged. I no longer could see more than 10%. «Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.» Ps 23:4

I felt obliged to look for a help from a private medical clinic in Heiden. After many weeks of treatments and intensive medication and injections, they implanted new lenses! After these operations, I could see again clearly. What a miracle!!!One more miracle: I was never presented any invoice, not even for the intensive treatment before or after the operation! An unexpected gift from the doctor!In April 1985, we moved and settled in Ebnat-Kapel. We got involved in a local church and stayed in close contact with Rwandan churches. Almost every year, I helped during conferences and community visits.At our church office, a new computer was installed. The in-itiation was often stressful. New tasks were entrusted to me in connection with the Kapplerhof. I was needed in many ways and overworked more often.When I was asked to entirely rededicate myself to the

missionary service, it was a relief to me and my family.At the annual conference in Rwanda, the urgency to open a secondary school was dis-cussed.I accepted the responsibilities to take care of three schools (Karengera, Tyazo & Sumba).In 1993, my post was officially confirmed as the director of Karengera secondary school. We started with a qualified staff and 91 students.

1994 – 2003You are with me! Despite the political tension,Lucie visited me. With students and Christians, we spent unfor-gettable weeks. After Easter celebrations, we found oursel-ves in Kigali and we were in the city when the presidential plane was shot down.The genocide began immedi-ately. We were forced to leave the country with all Europeans.A French military plane flew us to Nairobi. After a short night, Swissair brought us to Zurich.The media was reporting terrible news from Rwanda. Hundreds of thousands were killed, and many fled the country.After 3 months in Switzerland, a Swedish organization called PMU, asked me to join them and help refugees in Congo, widows and orphans in Rwanda.In a close cooperation with the authorities, primary schools, and a few months later secon-dary schools started again.Gradually, emergency aid could be replaced by the development aid. Through sponsorships, orphans could study free of charge.

A new 4- storey building was built. On the Gitwa hill, the professional school was opened again. A new primary and a non boarding secondary schools were also built.Due to an assassination att-empt, I was forced to give up the management of the school after 5 years and to leave the country.It made me feel tremendously bad, but the Lord had already taken precautions. I handed the school over to a qualified successor.Today many Rwandans are very much engaged in the work of God with dedication and with our support, the gospel is being spread across un-reached areas.

2004 – 2014The work continues!In 2006, Rachel and her family were willing to work at

the Bible school in Gisenyi. I accompanied them and together we rejoiced over the great development of the work of God.Later on, together with Lucie we spend 3 months in Rwan-da. Our visits to communities and schools were a great encouragement to many Christians. The construction of another 4 story school building was planned. Those responsible for our school centers deserve our full confidence for their tireless commitment.

The missionary Hudson Taylor wrote: «It is the privilege of children of God, to see the hand of the Lord in all circumstances and serve him in all things. If you always look at yourself as a servant of God, you have the privilege of relying on the fullness of God, when help is needed.»

Together with David, Martin and Rachel, we are very hap-py as we continue the work of «Pro Rwanda». It’s worthwail.

CordiallyAlfred & Lucie Tobler